For the past 6 months I have been travelling with my toddler Madi between Edmonton and Atlanta (We live in Atlanta for 4 weeks and then I work in Edmonton for 2 weeks at a time). What I learned is that travelling and time changes can affect your babies sleep. Even a 2 hour time difference (difference between Atlanta and Edmonton) can have a big…

If your reading this article, you’ve probably heard of sleep training and considered if it is the right idea for your family. I wanted to start off by saying that sleep training is a hot topic in the Mom community, and some may even consider it controversial. For me, sleep training is a personal decision that was effective for our family to get our baby to sleep….

As a physician I tell patient’s that it is safe to sleep train starting at 4-6 months as long as the infant has no concerns with growth and development. I only started sleep training Madi at 11 months event though I knew it was safe to start earlier. I knew it was safe to start sleep training Madi earlier, but struggled with hearing her cry during the process….

Child Wellness

Life of Dr. Mom recognizes that the modern mom wants to be well-informed. With professional experience in postnatal care, mental health, and Pediatrics, Dr. Mom works to educate the modern mom with the most relevant up-to-date medical evidence to support Child Wellness.

What is Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or “ADHD,” is the most common neurodevelopment disorder among kids and teens. ADHD was formerly called “Attention Deficit Disorder,” or “ADD,” however this is outdated terminology that was replaced in May of 2013 with the publication of updated literature. (The5th edition of the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.”)

ADHD is very common; data collected by the World Health Organization estimates that the rate worldwide is about 3.4%, however the rate ranges across studies anywhere from 2-10%. The United States Vital Health Statistics reports that approximately 9.5% of all U.S. Children between 6-17 years old will receive an ADHD diagnosis. This is about 1/10 kids, or 2-4 kids in an average classroom.

Children with ADHD will often experience difficulties with attention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity in settings such as home, daycare, school, or work.

Symptoms of inattention include things like:
-making careless mistakes at school
-difficulty sustaining focus on a task at school or while playing
-seeming unable to listen when spoken to
-difficulty following through with instructions or finishing school work
-difficulty organizing tasks
-often losing things or forgetfulness.

Children who have challenges with hyperactivity or impulse control may:
-fidget or tap,
-have difficulty staying seated or squirm in their seat,
-run or climb in inappropriate situations,
-have difficulty being quiet,
-talk excessively or blurt things out,
-have difficulty waiting their turn or often interrupt others

The symptoms of ADHD often start in childhood, and can persist into adulthood.

Doctors suggest that these symptoms occur due to changes in chemicals called “neurotransmitters” in the specific parts of the brain that are responsible for sustaining attention and reducing impulsive behaviour. Brain imaging studies that show the functioning of specific areas in the brain suggest that ADHD is associated with a dysfunction of a chemical called Dopamine in a certain pathway of the brain, (in medical terms we call these the fronto-subcortical, parietal, and prefrontal cortex). These pathways in the brain are involved with paying attention and controlling impulses – allowing us to act on an impulse, or not to act on an impulse. In ADHD, a dysfunction in this pathway makes it more difficult for children to sustain attention, and more difficult to control impulses.

Every person is on a “spectrum” of behaviour – naturally some people are more inattentive or impulsive than others, which can be normal. However, ADHD serves as an important diagnosis for children when these symptoms impair a child’s ability to participate in school, home, or play activities.

Life of Dr. Mom is designed for the modern mom whom struggles with balancing family, work, and fun. With her experience working in women health, postnatal care, mental health, and Pediatrics, Dr. Mom works to educate the modern mom with the most relevant up-to-date medical evidence to support families and the healthy development of their children